The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Percival gestured reassuringly for Vivienne to walk in.

Griffin didn’t give a damn, shot Audrey a glowering look, and shoved open the door to let Vivienne in, “Grandpa’s in your hands now, Vivienne.”

Vivienne stumbled a bit from the push. Thankfully, her footing was solid, or she might have ended up face-first on the floor.

Talk about unexpected. No wonder she caught Leopold’s eye. Both of them had a way of taking you by surprise.

…

Meanwhile, Kala was holed up at home.

When Darren got back from wrapping up some work outside, he walked in to find her chilling and watching TV, “Kala, you alright? All that online drama sorted out?”

Kala popped a potato chip into her mouth, “Not even close.”

“So, you’re just… chilling?”

How could she be so laid-back?

Ronald came out of the kitchen with a fruit bowl in his hands. “Don’t mind her. She’s been like this since she got back from the studio. Vivienne called earlier. The agency’s taking over the whole mess, told her to take a few days off. Kala’s over the moon.”

“Well, she’s happy, at least.”

Darren was exasperated. “The agency’s swamped. Ramona came prepared; high-def videos are all over the net, and the trolls are practically crashing the platforms with their venom.”

As he spoke, he couldn’t even understand. “I’m baffled, really. What’s your beef with Ramona that she’d set up such a scheme to target you?”

“She’s not after me.” Kala finally tore her gaze away from the screen. “She’s trying to drive a wedge between me and Vivienne, though I can’t fathom her endgame.”

“But she’s a lousy actress,” Kala spread her hands dismissively, “I’m not falling for such a cheap trick.”

clapped, impressed. “That’s my cousin. I thought you were gonna be mobbed today when I heard

enough of the videos online. “This Ramona chick,

first thought she

neat and tidy: parents were

League school, there wasn’t much else notable about her. Her sudden rise to fame in the cutthroat entertainment industry was baffling,

take. “Seems like our adversary isn’t

has been laying the groundwork for a while now. Probably tied to that organization, the boss has

organization?” Kala

last time Vivienne came to talk to Ronald,

was largely in the dark about what Vivienne

that even Darren knew, her curiosity was piqued. “Vivienne’s been out of touch for ages. Are you guys into something I

at a loss for words. Revealing anything

lips, he switched off the TV and ushered Kala to stand, “It’s nothing. What could we

…

Meanwhile, at CK Penitentiary.

a desk, and even a coffee table set with coffee paraphernalia, indistinguishable from those outside, with the serene scent of coffee

the notorious GTO organization, who should have been resting in an unmarked grave, was sitting calmly at the coffee

style recognized by those who knew him when he was alive, his face always wearing a faint, serene smile. He

if anyone were there, they’d see his eyes weren’t focused at all. They were cold, empty, devoid of any emotion, much

machine. A flawed prototype of the androids developed by Ronald, capable of mimicking human actions and voice

destruction solely due to Leopold’s morbid

decoy might draw

GTO would risk their life for someone who might not even

fanciful thinking,

wasn’t really

android that had survived a series of unfortunate events remained there, with the surveillance team having lost all hope and Leopold having completely

today, it seemed like there was a fish